Alumni

Elin Bunch

While at Vanderbilt, Elin pursued her passion for education and youth empowerment through academics and service. Elin enjoyed tutoring in many Nashville public schools throughout her time at Vanderbilt, and gained valuable insight into the interconnectedness of community and education. Majoring in Child Studies and Social Studies offered valuable insights on the intersection between youth’s cognitive, social and emotional development and societal influences. Elin witnessed the empowering effects of learning in youths’ lives when she traveled to Kingston, Jamaica to develop an art therapy program with children ages birth to 7 at Marigold Orphanage and when she spent a summer at Martha O’Bryan Center teaching a servant leadership curriculum. In her senior year, Elin also partnered with fellow scholar Mara Truslow and former Ingram Faculty Director Ann Neely on research looking at efficacy of creative writing in promoting confidence and creativity for youth.

After graduating in the spring of 2013, Elin moved to Chicago. There she will teach 9th and 10th grade Special Education at Catalyst Maria High School in West Englewood as a 2013 Teach for America Corps Member. She hopes to learn as much as possible during her two-year commitment and plans to either continue teaching or transition into another role supporting students.